Locking device for automobiles



I. M. WHITE.

- LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I?. 1920.

Patented 001:. 25, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

l /au've I. M. WHITE.

LOCKING DEVICE FDR AUTOMOBIILES.

APPLICATION FILED IuIIE I7. 1920.

1,394,872. PaIenIed oef, 25, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSEEMERCERsWHITE. OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed J'une 17,

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Jnssnn M. WHTTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices for Automobiles, of which the followingis a specification. i

VT he main object of Iny present invention is to prevent the theft of automobiles.

Another object of my present invention is to provide improved means lfor the above purpose which will be lso constructed and arranged as to be practically inaccessible to a thief and at the same time will be. operative, even when .locked against forward movement of the automobile, to permit the automobile to be pushed backward as is often necessary in order to prevent the stopping of traic or in cases of emergency where it is necessary to move an automobile from theplace where it is standing. .1

Another object is to so construct myimproved locking device that it will be operative to directly lock the driven shaft or in other words to lock the shaft between the transmission `gearing and the driving wheels. v s

A still further object is to so make my improved locking device that it canbe securedl to the transmission gear casing in such manner that it will be practically invisible and cannot be detached from the transmission casing from the outside thereof.

A still vfurther object is to so construct my'improve'dlocking device that it can be easily and quickly manipulated by the owner of the automobile or an authorized person. s i

Another object is to so arrange the parts of my improved locking device that ifi desired the driven shaft can be lockedagainst movement either directionv so that if it is desired to lock the automobile against movement either backward or forward, it can be done.

V...Another'object is-to make my improved locking device of a strong, durable and comparatively simple construction which can` be placed upon an automobile without in any way changing the structurev of the parts thereof.

The objects, and other advantageous ends which'will be described hereinafter, I attain Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 0013. 25, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 389,562.

in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a fragmentary elevation showing my improved device as -it appears when secured to the transmission gear casing of an automobile and adapted to lock the driven shaft thereof,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 showing the device 1n an unlocked position to permit the automobile to be moved either forwardly or backwardly,

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on theline 3 3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a view of similar character to Fig. 2 showing the device in a locked position preventing the automobile from either moving forwardly or rearwardly,

Fig. 5 is a View of similar character to Figs. 2 and 4 showing the device in a position which locks the automobile against for-v ward movement but permits it to be moved backwardly, i

Fig. 6 isa sectional vplan view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. is a sectionalelevation taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. V8 is a detail section of a locking or detent ring which forms a part of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, 9 represents a transmission gear casing of an automobile and 1() representsthe driven shaft which projects out of the rear end of said transmission gear casing. y

My improved locking device includes a housing 11, which is bolted, in the present -instance, to the rear face of the'transrnission casing byrbolts 12 which` preferably, have heads counter-sunkinto the housing; said bolts at their opposite ends extending within the transmission gear casing and are provided with nuts 13; said nuts being locked by Cotter pins 14. The housing 11 includes a cylindrical chamber lrwhich is in the form of a cavity open atthe side 16 of the housing; said side 16 being the side which abuts the end of thetransmission gear casing. The, driven shaft 10 extends through the chamber 15 and a toothed ratchet wheel 17 is locked to the driven shaft within the chamber 15.

A detent ring18 fits within Athe chamber 15 and surrounds the ratchet wheel 17. The

housing 11 has an upwardly extending branch 19 which is provided with a cylindrical bore 20; said bore extending downwardly from the top edge 21 of the branch and communicates at its' bottom with a-space 22 leading laterally from the cylindrical chamber 15. The detent ring-18l is made up in the present instance of two ring sec-A tions23 and 24 which are spaced apart and` andy 34; said 4expansion rings f also being designed to spring part way in the annular grooves formed in'the branch 19 and which -communicate with the bore 20. ,In this manner the cylinder 30 is vrotatably locked to the branch 19 ofthe housing 11 and during the inserting movement of said cylinder, the expansion ringsare held in contracted position. within the grooves of the cylinderand when the expansion rings are moved into register withthe respective grooves in thebranch, said expansion rings will expand into said latter grooves and thereby rotatably lock the cylinder in position. It willV4 be noted that the ring 34 is wider than the upi per groove in the branch and therefore during the inserting movement of the cylinder, the'ring 34 cannot enter. said upper groove but will pass thereover Vand down through the bore until it reaches thev lower groove into which it will expand; said lowerv ring in the branch beingsuficiently wide to permitthe ring 34tospring therein. The cylinder 30 includes a transverse partition 35 in Vwhich is swiveled an eyelet 36. .Y A coiled q spring 37 Y is positionedvwithin the' cylinder 30andhas one end connected tothe eyelet- Y 36'and the other end attached to the stud 28.-

The lower edge 38 of the cylinder 30 is made helical as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 4and 5 and' the kspring 37 isadapted to keep the Y anti-'friction roller 29 of the detentv ring 18 in contact with the edge 38.

- Themembers 25, 26 and 27v of the detent 'ringr 18 have adjacent ends spaced apart to provide openings39 into and through which free swinging .portions of three` locking pawls40, 41 and 42areadapted to swing under certain conditions Ahereinafter described. The locking pawls arefpivotally mounted within recesses 43.in the housing 11 immediately adjacent the chamber 15. VThe pawls are preferably arrangedl as illustra-ted so that'two ofthe pawls Vhave theirhooked ends 44 pointing downwardly such for example as the hooked ends of the pawls 40 and 41 so Y that said hookedv ends of the pawls 40 and 41 will fall by gravity, when `permitted to do so by the detent ring 18',as shown in Fig. 5

and thereby Vengage between the teeth of the ratchet wheel 17. Each of the pawls 40, 41 and 42 has a shoulder 45 adapted to be abutted by the adjacent end 46 of one of the detent members. The arrangement is such as Shown in'F ig. 2 that when the end 46 of a detent member is in engagement with the shoulder 45v that the opposite side edge 47 of each ofthe Vpawls will abutA the inclined surface 48' of the respective recess 43. The pawls will' abut the inclined surface 48 of the respective recess 43. The pawls, however,'are of greater length than thelengths of the walls 48 -of the recesses and project into the. openings 39 so as to providewedge shape crevices or cavities 49 into which the tapered ends 50 of said detent members can move under certain conditions during the operation` Vof the device and thereby swing thehooked ends 44 of the pawls into locking engagementl with the teeth of ythe ratchet wheel 17 as clearly shown inFig. 4. Thus when'the detent ring 18 is turned clockwise from the position shown in Fig. .2- to the position shown in Fig.V 4, thel pawls will be moved andheld in positive locking engagement lwith the lratchet wheel'17. On the other handV as shown in Fig.V 5` if the detent ring is moved into, an intermediate position the pawls 40 and41 will swingiby gravity into Vengagement with the teethof the ratchet wheel 17 and the shape of they ends 44 ofthe pawls is` such with respectqto theV shape of the teeth of the ratchet thatthe ratchet wheel Ycannot be moved clockwise viewed from 'Figg5 butca-n be movedcontraclockwise since the teeth of theratchet will merely pushthe pavwlsvout of the path of the ratchet'or in other words into the Y.dot and-dash linepositions of said pawls 4() and 41 as illustratedinzFlig. 5. The taper of 'the' ends 50'is so slight thatin the full locked l position asshown in Fig. 4,it is impossible Y for the reverse or contra-clockwise move-y ment' of the ratchet wheel and driven, shaft to oscillate the detent ring against `the'faction V of the spring 37.

nder 30 has a header VThe top of the cyli flange 51which providesl a hand-wheel; said' hand wheel "abutting the top edge 21 of the` branch 19.`A This head has a Vkey operated' pin lock 52,` which maybe of the pin, type,

placed therein; said lock havingja ypin 53 adaptedto engage within-a bolt54 which is slidably mounted' within thel cylinder and `adaptedtoengage either oftwo 'notches 55 Y and 56 inthe branch 1 9; saidinotches being.l clearly illustrated in`Fig. 6. A spring V57 is preferably provided to. move Vthe bolt into either of thc/.notches during rotation of the cylinder by the hand-wheel and the lock 52 can be operated by a key to cause the withdrawal of the bolt when it is desired to change the position of the cylinder during locking or unlocking movement.

The operation is as follows: During the normal running of the automobile the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 with the lowermost portion of the edge 38 of the cylinder 8()` holding the stud 28 down` against the action of the spring 37 and the ends 46 of the detent members of the detent ring 18 are in abutmentwith the shoulders 45 of the pawls holding the pawls all out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 17. If it is desired to lockthe automobile against movement in either forward or rearward directions a key is inserted within the lock 52 to withdraw the bolt from the notch 55 and the cylinder can then be rotated by hand to permit the anti-friction roller 29 of the stud 28 to be moved by the spring 37V into engagement with the highest portion of the edge 38. This action will cause the ends 50 of the detent members to swing and hold the pawls into positive looking engagement with the ratchet wheel as shown in Fig. 4; said movement being effected by a completev rotation of the cylinder 30 so that when'the key is removed the bolt will again enter the notch 55 and lock the cylinder tor the housing so as to prevent movement by an unauthorized person.

If it is desired to merely lock the automobile against forward movement t-he detent ring can be moved into the position shown in Fig. 5 and the bolt 54 can be permitted to engage the notch 56. This permits movement of the detent ring by the spring 37 so that the ratchet wheel 17 will be positively locked in one direction and can be moved in an opposite direction as previouslyv described.

VThe branch 19 may be made of sufficient length to permit it to pass upwardly through the floor of an automobile so that the head or hand-wheel of the cylinder is positioned above the Hoor level and may be readily grasped and a key may be easily inserted in the lock 52. Y

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, andhence I do'not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, kbut consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is L In a device of thefcharacter described, the combination of a member normally rotatable in either direction; a selective lock;

and means having portions optionally operative and controlled through the medium of said lock to eiiect the locking of said member against movement in either direction or the locking 0f said member against movement in one direction only; substantially as described.

2. The combination in an automobile of an operating shaft; a ratchet thereon; pawls for locking engagement with said ratchet; and controlling means for said pawls having portions movable in one direction to move and hold said pawls in locking engagement with the ratchet and other portions movable in an opposite direc-tion to move said pawls out of engagement with said ratchet, said portions being spaced apart and movable into another position to permit the pawls to automatically engage said ratchet, said pawls and ratchet having parts so shaped that when in said latter position a movement of said ratchet in one direction will move the pawls out of locking engagement therewith and when moved in an opposite direction will jam against said pawls and thereby prevent further movement of said ratchet in said latter direction; substantially as described.

3. The combination in an automobile of an operating shaft; a housing having a chamber through which said operating shaft extends; a ratchet secured to said shaft and located within said chamber; a detent ring adapted to oscillate within said chamber and having members spaced apart providing openings; pawls pivotally connected to said housing and having free portions capable of extending through said openings into engagement with said ratchet; and means for oscillating said ring whereby said members serve to swing said pawls into and out of engagement with said ratchet; substantially as described 4. The combination in an automobile of an operating shaft;` a housing having a chamber through which said operating shaft extends; a ratchet secured to said shaft and located within said chamber; a detent ring adapted to oscillate within said'chamber and having members spaced apart jproviding openings; pawls pivotally connected to said housing and having free portions capable of extending through said openings into engagement with said ratchet; and means for oscillating said ring whereby said members serve to swing said pawls into and out of engagement with said ratchet, certain of said pawls being adapted to swing` by gravity into engagement with said ratchet independently of said members, said latter pawls and the ratchet being shaped to prevent movement of said ratchet inone direction when said pawls are in said latter position and to cause said latter pawls to be moved out of engagement with said ratchet llO when the latter is moved in anvopposite direction f substantially as described.

5.v The-combination in an automobile loi an operating shaft; a housing having a chamber through which said operating shaft extends; a ratchet secured to said shaft and located within said chamber; a detent ring adapted to oscillate within said chamber and having ymembers spaced apart providing openings; pawls pivotally connectedv to said housing and havino v'reeportions capable of Vextending throug saidopeningsinto engagement With said ratchet; actuating means movable within said housing; means' for locking. said actuating means in various' positions, said actuating means having a portion adapted to oscillate said detent ring; and means for locking said actuating means in various positions; substantially as described..y

' 6. The combination in an automobile of an' operating shaft; a housing having a chamber throughwhich said operatingfsha'ft extends ;V a ratchet securedv to f said. shaft and located within said chamber; a'detent ring adapted to oscillatewithin said chamber and having: members spaced A apart providing openings; pawls pivotally'connected vto saidV housing and'having free portions capable of extending through said? openings' into* en'- gagement with said-ratchet; actuatingmeans mounted in saidhousingandhaving an actu-A ating portion project-ing outside of said extends; a` ratchet secured to said shaft and located within said chamber; a detent ring' adapted'to oscillatewithin said chamber and having members spaced" apart. providing openings; pawls pivotally connected'to said housingand'havingfree portions capable of extending. through said openings intoY en-V gagement `with said'A ratchet; means for oscillating said ring'w-hereby said' members serve to' swing saidmpawls into and out of engagement with said ratchet, 'said means including afcylinder rotatably mounted in saidhousin'g.l and having a portion projectingk to theAv outside of the housing, said ring having a portion projecting` therefrom, said cylinder having a helical edge portion ladapted toengage said projecting member and a springl forholding said projecting member into-engagement Awith saidl helical edgenand. means for locking said cylinder to: the lhousing/in. various of its' rotatable positions; substantially las described.

8. The combination in an automobile of an operating shaft; a housing having a cham'- bei through: which said operatingrsha'ftVv ex-V tends; a ratchetzsecuredto said. shaft and located within said; chamber; a detentY ring adapted' vto oscillate within. said :chamber and having membersl spacedYV apartfY providing openings pawlsA pivotally connected to .said housing and having iree': portions capable of extending through*V said openings :intoV engagement with saidl ratchet; ,a Cylinder ifotatably mounted in said-housing and having an` actuating portion projecting outside' of said'housing7 said ring having aportion pro jecting therefrom withinthe housing; said cylinder havingA aA VhelicalV edge portion adapted to engage saidprojec'tingmember; a springiwithnsaidcylinder and in swiveled connection therewithv andrwith said projecting portion ofthe ringvwhereby said' latter proj ectingportion is heldin engagement withV said helical edge; andi means for' locking said cylinder in var-ions otit'srotatableY positions; substantially'as described."

9. The combinationv in an automobile of an operating shaft; af housing having a chamber throughwliich Said operating shaftv extends; aY ratchet secured toy said shaft and locatedwithin'saids chamber; ay detent. ringV adaptedto oscillate withinsaidchamber and having; members;r spaced-f" apartv providing s openings; pawlspivotally connected to said housing and having free portions :capable of extending through said openings into engagement with said ratchet; a cylinder rotatably mountedinsaid-housing' and 'having an' actuatingportion projecting to thev oiitf side of said'housingpsai'd ringhaving a por-VV tion projecting therefrom into the housing, said cylinder having ka helical edgev portionk adaptedV to' engage saidl projecting member; a springivithin said cylinder Aand infswiveled connectionftherewith and with said prog jecting portion of the ring' whereby said projecting portion is held in engagement with' said helical edge;,said housing. having notches therein; allock in said-cylinder; and

ifi o a bolt operativelyconnected'to saidlock and Y movable into any ory said notches whereby the cylindersare locked invariouspositions; substantially aS-described. Y k 10. The combination in an automobile or an operating shaft; a'v housing having Y a chamber throughl which said operating shaft extends; aY ratchet secured to said shaitand located'within said chamber; a detent' ring adapted to oscillate withinsaid chamber and having membersl spaced apart providing openings; pawls pivotally connected' to said housing and havingfreeportions capable oiV` extending through saidy openings. in to engagement l with' said ratchet; andmeans for oscillating said-1 ring;4 said' freeportions" of the pawls including a shoulder'v andan extended edge, said membersat one end having ,taperedf portions adapted to engage between iin V members at their opposite edges being adapted to abut said shoulders; substantially as described.

ll. A device of the character described including means having a bore and grooves extending inwardly from said bore and of diiferent Widths; and looking means rotatable within said bore, said locking means having rings adapted to spring into said grooves7 one of said rings being wider than one of said grooves whereby during the inserting movement of said locking means into the bore, the wide ring will pass over the narrow groove and both rings will spring into the respective grooves; substantially as 15 described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JESSEE MERCER WHITE.

Vitnesses:

ELIZABETH GARBE, CHAs. E. Porrs. 

